Combined entrance-swtch and service-box.



B. D. HORTON. v, COMBINED ENTRANCE SWITCH AND SERVICE BOX.

APPLI N ILED Auma. 1914.

1,280,479. Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

i -mm-,..--mm mm. 4

BRYSON D. HORTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED ENTRANCE SWITCH AND SERVICE-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

Application filed August 18, 1914. Serial No. 857,301.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnrsox D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements for Combined Entrance-Switch and Service-Boxes, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, is a full, clear, and concise description.

My invention relates more particularly '1 to a unitary housing for that type of switches commonly referred to as entrance switches, and their associate cutout blocks or panel boards, employed generally in the service of illuminating companies.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of housing for inclosing the switch and its distributing panel which permit of controlling the service insuch a way as to insure the proper metering and distribution of the current without the possibility of theft, by an apparatus which is compact and economical in manufacturing cost.

In the illustration of the accompanying drawings, I show, by way of example, one form in which my invention may be embodied.

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the switch, meter and distributing panel, within their inclosing housings the covers of the switch and panel compartments being broken away to show the interior connections.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional detailed view taken on line g-a; of Fig. 1, showing the protecting hood between the meter and switch casings and the means employed for locking the same in position.

I preferably employ a metallic housing 1 for the switch and distributing units made of sheet metal, and divided by a sheet metal partition 2 which separates the interior into two compartments, in one of which is p0sitioned the switch 3, and in the other a distributing panel 4. J uxtaposed and in close proximity to. the switch compartment is the meter casing 5 which may be cylindrical in form or of any other desired shape. The switch and distributing housing as well as the meter housing are preferably mounted upon a vertical support, such as the wall of the building. When so mounted the flexible wire connections between the meter and the switch are covered and protected by a suitably-shaped. hood 6 designed so as to conform to the portion of the exterior surface with which it engages, thus surrounding the otherwise exposed portions of the connections which are ordinarily susceptible of being tapped or cut into.

The controlling switch may be of any well-known or approved type. As the'pa ticular form of the switch forms no essential part of the present invention, it will suifice to say that 8 represents the stationary contacts and 9 the pivotally-mounted. cooperating knife-blade contacts, these latter being connected by a cross-head 1O operably associated with a crank or switch arm 11 extending through the casing to provide for exterior manipulation. 11-11 represent sockets for the accommodation of the wellknown type of plug fuse. 12-12 represent the leads or wires leading from the switch to the meter 5 while 1313 represent leads or circuit wiresbetween the meter and the distributing panel l.

It will be understood that the switch and distributing parts are mounted upon insulated bases preferably made of porcelain fixedly fastened to the bottom of the metal casing l. The entrance and exit of wires to the switch and distributing compartments are made through suitable bushings 1 1. These wires being heavily insulated, obviate the necessity of using bushing of insulating material. The distributing panel comprises one or more unit blocks provided with terminals or binding posts 15 and metallic removable conductor plates 16, the latter being in circuit with the binding posts 15 through the fuses adapted to be received within the receptacles 17.v The leads or wires 13 leading from the meter are clamped in position by the plates 16, said wires being bared to form electrical contact therewith; each plate 16 is in electrical contact with the terminals of two of the receptacles which form sockets for the removal plug fuses as indicated, while each binding'post 15 is in electrical contact with the socket portion only of the receptacle. Connected to the binding posts 15 are the leads or wire 19 which form individual distributing circuits.

The casing .1 is provided with a two-part cover, each part individually hinged and. individually movable, in order to permit of independent access to the respective compartments. The cover 20 hinged at 21 is provided with a lock 22, by which the distributing panel housing may be locked,

Likewise the switch compartment cover 23 which is hinged at 21 is provided with a lock 25, by which this compartment may also be closed and locked to prevent unauthorized access. The meter 5 is housed within a two-part casing of the usual wellknown construction which parts are easily locked together by means of a pair of perforated binding posts 27, through which a wire 28 is threaded, the ends of which are passed through and are embodied in a lead seal 29.

It will thus be seen that by providing metallic housings of this character for the several electrical ,instrumentalities described, an effective protected service is obtained. From the time the current enters to the time that it leaves the switch-board it may always be under lock and seal. Furthermore, the current may be properly metered without any chance or liability of being stolen because the connections between it and the tion are protected by the hood 6. This hood I is removably mounted and is provided with laterally extending flanges 31 upon its three sides, itbeing U-shaped, opened at both ends and on one side. flanges and arranged to slide thereunder, is the end-plate 32 of the switch housing. This plate has a cut-out portion complemental to the configuration of the hood and is received and slidably arranged within a groove formed by the parallel flanges 3334. The edge of the plate 32 is in the same plane as the edge of the sides of the casing, so that when the cover 23 is closed, this plate is locked against movement and, as a result, the hood 6 is likewise locked into place, preventing access to the meter terminals.

While I have described one preferable form in which my invention may be em-' bodied, I do not wish to be restricted in the matter of structural detail as variations may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A

1. An entrance switch, including in combination a switch mechanism controlling the line circuit, a meter vand" a distributing panel, said switch, meter and distributing panel being housed within separate metallic .and a distributin Cooperating with these casings, and means for independently looking or sealing said casings for preventing unauthorized access to the switch, the meter and the distributing panel to insure the metering of the current, said switch being operable from the exterior of its casing.

2. An entrance switch, comprising the following instrumentalities, connected metallic protecting housings, providing a plurality of compartments, a switch in one compartment, a meter in another compartment and a distributing panel in a thirdcompartment, said switch, meter, and distributing I panel being electrically connected and in circuit with the main service line, and means for locking the respective compartments to prevent unauthorized, access and to insure he proper metering of the service current.

3. 'In combination, a metallic casing, a switch mechanism therein, a meter and casing therefor, electrical connections between 'the meter and the switch, and means for connecting the meter casing to the switch casing in such a way as to protect said electrical connections, said means comprising a removable hood adapted to engage the meter casing and the switchcasin and a removable slide member in the si e of the switch casing adapted to cooperate with the hood to hold it in position, said casin and slide member being locked in position against movement when the cover of the switch casing is closed.

at. An entrance switch, comprising, in combination, a switch mechanism, a meter panel, metallic housings providing indivi ual compartments therefor, electrical connections between the same, and means for protecting said electrical connections against unauthorized manipulation to protect the service from the point of entrance of the service line to the point of exit of the distributing lines.

5. In combination, a metallic housing providing a plurality of compartments, a switch in one compartment and a meter in a second compartment and a distributing panel in a third compartment, a service circuit connecting the switch, meter and distributing panel, means for protecting the circuit wires between the meter and the switch, and means for rendering said compartments inaccessible to prevent tampering with the electrical connections between the several instrumentalities.

In combination with an apertured switch casing provided with a hing d lid, a meter casing and an intermediate adapter hood between and connecting said casings, said adapter hood being provided with a flanged end adapted to project within the aperture of the switch casing and a lockin plate adapted to be inserted between the flange of the adapter hood and the side of the switch casing for locking said adapter hood in position, said locking plate and adapter-hood flange being covered by the lid of the switch casing when closed.

7. In combination, a meter, a switch mechanism and a distributing panel, metallic housings providing individual compartments therefor, electrical connections between the same, and means for placing said elements severally and independent'l under the control of the consumer and different classes of authorized persons.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a sheet metal inclosure having therein a switch mechanism and a distributing panel partitioned from each other, and a hood joining said inclosure adapted to receive a meter.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a sheet metal box having two sections, a service switch in one section, a load and meter terminal block in the other section, said sections being partitioned one from the'other, cover means for said box comprising a dooradapted to be opened to permit access to said terminal block while the service switch remains inaccessible, and

, scribed. in. combination, a sheet metal box having two sections, a service switch in one section, a load and meter terminal block in the other section, said sections being partitioned one from the other, cover means for said box comprising a door adapted to be opened to permit access to said terminal block while the service switch remains inaccessible, and means communicating with said box comprising a meter adapter, the lastsaid means being detachable from said box to permit the substitution of a closure plate,

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BRYSON D. HORTON.

Witnesses:

ALICE O. HARBACK, HARRY S. F REELIAN. 

